| Rose hips provide up to twenty times more vitamin | | | | content in leaps and bounds. The rose has long been |
| C dosage than citrus fruit. If you aren't yet convinced | | | | loved for its beauty and fragrance and has often |
| of the phenomenal health benefits of this vitamin | | | | been there for the special times in our lives, yet they |
| then keep reading, you soon will be. | | | | hide within them a little miracle called the rose hip |
| Vitamin C nutrition is considered essential for humans | | | | which is considered the fruit of the rose. Once a rose |
| and even some animals such as the higher primates | | | | flower has bloomed and the petals have dropped, |
| and even to small mammals like bats. Deficiency can | | | | the rose hip becomes visible. Usually red in color, rose |
| cause scurvy and in fact did a couple of centuries | | | | hips can also be purple or black, they are a top |
| ago. Many people attributed scurvy to the lack of | | | | source of vitamin C providing between 20 to 60 |
| fresh plant food, yet when the British Navy began | | | | times the doses obtained from citrus fruits. The |
| feeding their sailors lime juice in 1795, scurvy became | | | | healing power of rose hips is not something new |
| a thing of the past, for them at least. | | | | though, even during WWII they were used to create |
| Scurvy lead to liver spots and bleeding from all | | | | a syrup as citrus fruits were hard to find at this time. |
| mucous membranes, those suffering from scurvy | | | | Rose hips are used to counteract flu and colds and |
| were pale, depressed and became partially | | | | can lower high temperatures. |
| immobilised. In advance scurvy wounds suppurate | | | | Simply steeped into a tea, it is recommended that |
| and teeth fall out. Death is certain. The human body | | | | between 2 - 4 cups of rose hip tea be consumed per |
| can only store so much vitamin C which it soon | | | | day during bouts of colds, but if taken on a daily |
| depletes if fresh supplies are not provided. People | | | | basis over a life time, you shouldn't be susceptible to |
| with a lack of vitamin C are at higher risk to lung | | | | illnesses such as these. Rose hips are versatile too |
| borne diseases and this is why smokers should | | | | and can be used to create jams, syrups, breads, tea, |
| supplement their Vitamin C supply. | | | | oils and creams. Used topically rose hip has incredible |
| Today the western world generally consumes | | | | skin healing properties. |
| enough vitamin C to ward off scurvy, but this | | | | Adequate doses of vitamin C have long been |
| doesn't mean we are in fact getting the | | | | associated with soothing restlessness and even |
| recommended dose. Recommended doses of vitamin | | | | depression and rose hip products can be taken safely |
| C are debatable but a good rule of thumb is 133mg | | | | to aid in melancholy, offering drug free cures. A lack |
| per day in males and 120mg per day for females. | | | | of vitamin C also plays a hand in sleep deprivation |
| Natural sources and medical benefits of Vitamin C | | | | and rose hip tea taken before bed on a regular basis |
| The most common sources of vitamin C are citrus | | | | will eliminate insomnia, ensuring you get good nights |
| fruits. We need it if we are to follow a healthy diet | | | | sleep, are refreshed and energetic. |
| because it also provides highly effective antioxidants, | | | | There is a growing interest in reviving the medicinal |
| and it supports numerous physiological functions in | | | | properties of rose hips and a host of products in |
| our body such as the synthesis of collagen and | | | | capsule form are available on the market, yet what |
| neurotransmitters which is essential to the | | | | could be simpler than harvesting your own rose hips |
| development of cartilage and blood vessels and also | | | | from your own garden. Look for a variety of rose |
| aids in the prevention of scar tissue. | | | | that produces quite large rose hips because they are |
| Antioxidants gained from vitamin C help fight free | | | | higher in vitamin C, but don't harvest those that are |
| radicals in our body which help prevent cardiovascular | | | | diseased or insect infected. |
| diseases, hypertension, diabetes and inflammatory | | | | The vitamin C nutritional value of rose hips is best |
| diseases. | | | | when used immediately after harvesting, and once |
| Rose hips benefits | | | | you have turned your culinary hand to them and |
| The rich vitamin C source has always been attributed | | | | offered their nutritional value to your family, it won't |
| to citrus fruits, yet rose hips are overtaking their | | | | be long until you see their healthy benefits. |